Professional Interior Painting Contractors
Brooklyn, Manhattan, New York / Middletown NJ
Our Approach to Superior, Professional Painting
Before any general painting is started typically there are some steps that come first. Our one hour color consultation is very popular. This allows our our clients to feel comfortable with the color, look and feel that they have planned for. Nothing is worse than investing in a job and not liking, or even hating the color after the job is done. Once we have the right color paint, and finish in place we can schedule the work to begin. One of the most crucial steps to take of course is protection of surfaces like floors, furniture and belongings. Preparation of the surfaces is also something that would be done before the paint cans are opened, things like; sanding, scraping, and filling. If these steps are not followed they will echo through even the best paint job.
When the surfaces are all properly prepared and free of dust, and everything else in the room is secure and protected, then we can begin the task of applying paint to the surfaces. Usually we work the room from the top down, starting with the ceilings down to the picture moldings or crown moldings in the typical flat finish of the ceiling. Depending on the specifics we will sometimes move onto painting the trim before the walls but this is always dependent on specific circumstances.
Once in awhile our customers will ask or I will recommend that we use a specific type of applicator for the surface in order to overcome a problem or create the desired look. We only use the best, high quality, lint free paint rollers, we use roller naps between 1/4, 3/8th for very smooth walls and up to 1/2 even 3/4 inch for some surfaces including textured surfaces. The nap of the roller is the measurement of its thickness. The thicker the roller nap, the more paint it will hold but also the more paint it will off-load onto the walls creating a heavier paint stipple or orange peel texture to the wall or ceiling.
On rare occasions, mostly historical applications, we will not use rollers for any surfaces at all, we will use only specially made wide soft brushes. Paint rollers were not invented until 1940. This subtle but apparent difference in a painted surface can look really out of place in a certain type of property for those who discern such differences. On the other end of the spectrum-many high-production commercial painters will use a loaded up high nap roller to increase their production rate. This might be acceptable on certain kinds of jobs but one size, one approach does not fit all. Home owners or commercial clients looking for a high quality paint job should be aware of this.
An even texture of low and consistent stipple is considered to be the most desirable, but the roller is only part of what creates the ideal look, the paint applicator, the painter themselves- how they work the roller on the wall is probably just as important if not more important than the correct nap used. The paint is also a large part of the equation, a good paint will lay down smoothly and evenly allowing less for less work and a more beautiful look. The leveling capability of paint is very important and should not be passed over.
Careful selection and experience with particular brands and lines of wall, ceiling and trim paints allows us to deliver exceptional results to our clients. Improper paint application, sloppy or lazy methods can render any renovation or restoration project with inferior results. This is frustrating and is something we see all to often, probably as often as we hear that “anyone can paint”! Having something professionally painted should mean just that, having someone who knows the materials, the paint, who knows their tools, and is a pro in their application methods. The combination of these three things will produce an outcome that will be appreciated for years and years.